Saskatoon city council has changed the way it conducts business in the wake of last month’s tough provincial budget.

Now, every decision seems to be made with an eye on saving money or at least not spending more money, no matter how small the amount.

A council committee defeated a proposed pilot project for backyard chickens last week with three councillors citing concern about consuming the time of city hall staff and resources. The backyard chickens plan — it would have only involved 30 households over 18 months — was shown the “eggs-it” without even an indication of how much money or resources might be needed.

The Saskatchewan Party government’s decision to withdraw the money from its grants-in-lieu program, which has historically paid money in place of property tax for provincial infrastructure located inside cities, surprised municipal governments. That’s putting it mildly, actually.

Municipal politicians have treated the move like an ambush. Saskatoon council backed pursuing an injunction against the removal of grants-in-lieu in court.

The $11.4-million hole it will leave in Saskatoon’s budget — though about $8 million for 2017 — has cast a shadow over every discussion at city hall that might entail spending money or involve staff time.

Veteran Coun. Darren Hill took it a step further, seeking an April vote on pulling $3 million council voted in February to contribute to a $41-million twin-pad arena as part of a partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.

Hill, who voted argued against the spending and voted against it in February, said he cannot recall an instance in his 10 years on council where that amount of money was given to a third-party project outside the budget process. Hill wants the contribution reconsidered during budget talks at year’s end.

Coun. Randy Donauer, who voted in favour of the rink money, countered the unique nature of the contribution is precisely why it needs to go forward. The City of Saskatoon, Donauer argues, cannot continue to build all its needed infrastructure by itself and partners will be needed.

The city announced a year ago such a partnership with the YMCA to improve recreation facilities in the city’s core neighbourhoods.

“Never depend on promises until you have a cheque in your hand,” Hill said in an interview on the province’s decision to withdraw the grants-in-lieu.

So the city reacts indignantly when the province withdraw money on which the city was counting and could react by pulling the financial rug out from under another partner.

Five of the councillors who voted for the rink contribution in a 6-5 decision have expressed post-provincial budget support for their votes. It will be interesting to see if any of the opposing five — several of whom argued against the contribution before the provincial budget’s impact was known — vote against withdrawing the money, simply because they think the city should live up to its commitments.

It didn’t take long for Saskatoon resident Tara Hackl to suggest on Facebook that if the rink money is going to be withdrawn, why should the city not reconsider its last contribution to the Remai Modern art gallery?

Even though the gallery has been turned over to the city, at last indication, the project remained $2.5 million to $4.5 million over budget. As Hackl points out, supporters of the gallery could just as easy be told to fundraise to make up the difference as those who want to see a new rink.

It seems unlikely the city will find a solution to the $8-million hole created by the provincial budget — $9 million if you count the impact of raising the provincial sales tax — without upsetting someone.

City administrators and politicians seem loathe to follow the province’s unsolicited advice to dip into their $141 million in reserve funds to cover the shortfall.

As Mayor Charlie Clark says, the city really only has two options: Raise taxes or cut services.

We will likely see a combination of both, coupled with a new level of scrutiny for just about every move at city hall.

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